Monday, December 21, 2015

Monday, December 21

Silent reading.
Amnesty Announcement.  (No regular reading log due day after break).

Groups selected individual tales for performance; read through stories and began planning their performance.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, January 4: Bank/amnesty logs accepted: 1 past log can be submitted w/o penalty on the Monday after break; up to 2 future logs can be banked.

FRIDAY, January 8:  Canterbury Tales performance projects due.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Friday, December 18

Wife of Bath's Tale vocabulary quiz.

Groups shared and presented DEJs on The Wife of Bath's Tale; discussed meaning together.
Discussed DEJs and The Wife of Bath's Tale: a twisted/ironic take on a medieval romance?
Showed animated version of The Wife of Bath's Tale.
Began discussion of upcoming projects.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, January 4: Bank/amnesty logs accepted.
FRIDAY, January 8:  Canterbury Tales performance projects due.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Thursday, December 17

Finished last few minutes of "The Changeling."

Continued reading The Wife of Bath's Tale as a whole class.  (Read to line 258, p. 184.)
Comprehension check on the story to that point.
Groups finished reading The Wife of Bath's Tale; discussed meaning together.
Students wrote up 2 notes for DEJs.  (Will COLLECT after tomorrow's discussion.)

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 16: Canterbury Tales character posters due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.


MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Wednesday, December 16

Reminders re: posters, reading quiz.
Choice of reading, vocabulary study, or poster work.

Reading quiz on "The Host."
Groups shared, presented posters of characters from The Canterbury Tales.
COLLECTED posters.

Began reading "The Wife of Bath's Tale."  (Read from 178--180.)

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 16: Reading Quiz on "The Host."
WEDNESDAY, December 16: Canterbury Tales character posters due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.


MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, December 15

This lesson taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence; short class due to early release schedule.

Continued Star Trek episode, "The Changeling."

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 16: Reading Quiz on "The Host."
WEDNESDAY, December 16: Canterbury Tales character posters due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.


MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, December 14

This lesson taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Began Star Trek episode, "The Changeling."

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 16: Reading Quiz on "The Host."
WEDNESDAY, December 16: Canterbury Tales character posters due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.


MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday, December 11

Study session with the Wife of Bath's Tale vocabulary list.

Wrapped up discussion of The Miller, The Manciple and The Reeve DEJs (157--159).
COLLECTED DEJs with 4 notes.
Read and discussed The Summoner and The Pardoner.
HOMEWORK: Read The Host and prepare for a reading quiz on Monday; write 2 notes on a DEJ on The Summoner, The Pardoner, or The Host.

Reviewed possible characters for poster assignment: The Knight, the Squire, the Nun, the Monk, the Doctor, The Wife of Bath, The Miller,The Summoner and The Pardoner.  Posters will be due Wednesday.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 14: Reading Quiz on "The Host."
WEDNESDAY, December 16: Canterbury Tales character posters due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Thursday, December 10

Distributed Wife of Bath's Tale vocabulary list.
Choice of silent reading or vocabulary work.

Groups read The Miller, The Manciple and the Reeve (157--159).  Discussed together.
Students created 2 DEJs from today's reading, and shared them within their groups.
Began presenting examples from the characters; will wrap up and collect a total of 4 DEJ entries tomorrow.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 9: Campfire quizzes due.
FRIDAY, December 18: "Wife of Bath's Tale" vocabulary quiz.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, December 9

Choice of silent reading or last touches to Campfire Quiz answers or DEJs.
Discussed, COLLECTED quizzes.

Discussed DEJs on "The Wife of Bath," "The Parson," and "The Plowman"(155--157).
Discussed professions noted for integrity (or the lack of it) now and in the Middle Ages; introduced the profession of Miller.

DUE DATES

WEDNESDAY, December 9: Campfire quizzes due; 2 DEJs on "The Wife of Bath" through "The Plowman" due.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Tuesday, December 8

Choice of silent reading or wrapping up drafts of Campfire Quiz questions..
Groups checked in with their answers; discussed questions that had arisen.
Final draft answers to the questions due tomorrow after warm-up.
OPTIONAL: Students who were ready handed in the quizzes early.

Described upcoming poster project.
Read and discussed "The Doctor" as a whole class (154--155).
Groups met, read and discussed "The Wife of Bath," "The Parson," and "The Plowman" together (155--157).
Marked two potential DEJ quotes with Post-It Notes; will be due after warm-up tomorrow.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
WEDNESDAY, December 9: Campfire quizzes due; 2 DEJs on "The Wife of Bath" through "The Plowman" due.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Monday, December 7

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Students continued working on rough draft responses (individually).
Groups began discussing responses.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
WEDNESDAY, December 9: Campfire quizzes due.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Friday, December 4

Chaucer vocabulary quiz (Prolog Part 2).
Silent reading (short).

Groups wrapped up reading 150--154, discussing characters for understanding as they go, before beginning the question set on the reading.
Distributed question sets for Campfire Quiz; students began working on rough draft responses (individually).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Thursday, December 3

Vocabulary or silent reading (short).

Read and discussed "The Friar"  in Canterbury Tales (148--149).
Distributed Campfire Quiz directions.
Groups began reading 150--154, discussing characters for understanding as they go, before beginning the question set on the reading.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Wednesday, December 2

Extended silent reading/vocabulary work, due to Senior Citizens Concert.

Read and discussed "The Monk" in Canterbury Tales; began reading "The Friar" (147--148).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tuesday, December 1

Introduced Prolog Part 2 Vocabulary.

Recorded second batch of 2 DEJs on The Canterbury Tales.
Groups met to share DEJs and discuss the question on"The Nun" (146)
Each group presented a model DEJ and details in support of their answer on the Nun with the class.
COLLECTED set of 4 DEJs.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday, November 30

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Reviewed objectives for the DEJs on The Canterbury Tales.
Reviewed DEJ entries from the post-it notes on "The Knight's Tale."
Continued reading The Canterbury Tales, "The Squire," "The Yeoman," and "The Nun" (144--147).
Students placed two Post-It notes to mark two more DEJs.
Groups met to discuss the character of "The Nun."

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 4: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog Part 2).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Tuesday, November 24

Due to special college week activities and students in workshops, today and tomorrow we will be watching the Star Trek episode "Amok Time" and doing independent reading.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Monday, November 23

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Reviewed objectives for the DEJs on The Canterbury Tales.
Students created two DEJ entries from the post-it notes on "The Knight's Tale."
Shared examples with the class; discussed whether or not this selection is ironic or not.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, November 20

Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
Silent reading.
Reading quiz on pages 137--140 in textbook, introduction to The Canterbury Tales.

Began reading The Canterbury Tales.
Placed two post-it notes on "The Knight's Tale," using Canterbury Tales DEJs.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Thursday, November 19

Choice of silent reading or vocabulary study.
HOMEWORK: Read pages 137--140 in textbook, introduction to The Canterbury Tales.  Be prepared for a reading quiz!

Finished notes on The Canterbury Tales.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Wednesday, November 18

Vocabulary study session.

Discussion of changing genres and purposes reflected across the time periods and literature we have studied so far in this course:

  • Beowulf and the Pre-Christian, Warrior-centered Old English culture.
  • Caedmon and the transition to Christian Old English culture.
  • Robin Hood and the peasant's view of the post-1066 world; English oral culture.
  • Medieval Romances and the noble's view of the post-1066 world; French and then Middle English literature.


Began notes on The Canterbury Tales.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Tuesday, November 17

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Groups presented DEJs on Medieval Romance in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
COLLECTED DEJs.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Friday, November 13

Introduced vocabulary unit on Chaucer (Prolog through the Doctor).

Groups finished reading Part 2 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Students wrote up DEJs on elements of Medieval Romance.
Shared DEJs in groups and chose representative ones to share with the class as a whole.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, November 20: Quiz on Chaucer vocabulary (Prolog through the Doctor).
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, November 12

This class taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.

Watched BBC documentary, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, November 11

No school due to Veteran's Day.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Tuesday, November 10

This class short due to early release schedule.

Students labeled DEJs on Part 1 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
COLLECTED DEJs.
Distributed Chaucer vocabulary set: available on Quizlet; quiz on Friday, 11/20.

Groups read Part 2 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, noting down line numbers of notable elements of Medieval Romance in Gawain.  (Will finish task on Thursday.)

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Monday, November 9

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Groups discussed students' DEJs on elements of Medieval Romance in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and presented examples to the class.
Class discussion of elements of Medieval Romance in Gawain.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Friday, November 6

Quiz on King Arthur/Sir Gawain vocabulary.
Silent reading.

Accessed online text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and finished reading first part of the poem.
Students completed 2 DEJs on elements of Medieval Romance in the poem, and saved them to share with their groups.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Thursday, November 5

Reminder: Vocabulary quiz tomorrow.
Choice of silent reading or King Arthur vocabulary.
Discussed elements of Medieval Romance from "The Day of Destiny" in students' DEJs.
COLLECTED DEJs.

PowerPoint notes on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Distributed new DEJs on elements of Medieval Romance.
Accessed online text, and began reading the poem, noting line numbers of examples for new set of DEJs.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Wednesday, November 4

Annual plagiarism training:

  • Watched the You Tube video, "A Quick Guide to Plagiarism," stopping to discuss situations and definitions in greater detail.
  • Visited the Bates College Plagiarism Resource Site, and reviewed their academic honesty materials.
  • Students completed the academic honesty self test.
  • Students signed off that they had completed the test, and reviewed and initialed they understood key concepts in academic honesty.

Saved DEJs on "The Day of Destiny"from Le Morte d'Arthur (216--222) for discussion in class tomorrow.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays were due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Tuesday, November 3

Homework check: 4 DEJs on King Arthur packet.
Reading quiz.
Choice of silent reading or King Arthur vocabulary.
COLLECTED DEJs.

Reviewed elements of a Medieval Romance.
Read the Background information on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (215).
Read "The Day of Destiny"from Le Morte d'Arthur (216--222).
Students found two examples of elements of a Medieval Romance from "The Day of Destiny," and wrote them up as DEJs.
Groups met and shared their examples.  Students were free to add examples to their notes if they wished, being sure to use their own original language.

Saved DEJs for discussion in class.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays were due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Monday, November 2

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Reviewed why Robin Hood ballads were not written as Medieval Romances, what the political purposes of the genre of Medieval Romance were.
Reviewed the elements of Medieval Romance.
Shared DEJ notes from "The Drawing of the Sword," discussing how the story shows typical elements of a Medieval Romance.

Read "The Questing Beast" from the King Arthur packet.

HOMEWORK: Read the remaining stories in the packet, and fill out four additional DEJ notes for discussion tomorrow.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays were due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Friday, October 30

Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading. (King Arthur and Sir Gawain vocabulary quiz will be next Friday.)
Returned Anglo-Saxon Poetry tests; checked in around essay submissions.

Reviewed why Robin Hood ballads would not have been popular with the Norman Aristocracy.
Finished PowerPoint notes set on Medieval Literature and History.
Read and discussed the story "The Drawing of the Sword," from Lang's King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table. (Packets available in class.)

Working with a partner, students took down DEJ notes on how the story showed typical elements of a Medieval Romance.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thursday, October 29

Introduced King Arthur and Sir Gawain vocabulary unit.  Quiz will be next Friday.
Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading.

Began PowerPoint notes set on Medieval Literature and History.
Read and discussed the ballad "Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford," including how it relates to class tensions and Norman/Saxon tensions in the centuries after 1066.

Continued the PowerPoint notes series.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Wednesday, October 28

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Brief review of how the Norman Invasion relates to the development of English.
Watched "The History of English (In Ten Minutes)."

Quick check in: what do we know about Robin Hood?


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Tuesday, October 27

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.
Guest teacher, Ms. Soel from Westfield State presented a lesson on the transition from Old English to Middle English with the Norman Invasion of 1066.

Students took notes, discussed how vocabulary with French and Old English roots reflects the social structures after the invasion, and inspected a reproduction of the full Bayeux Tapestry depiction of the invasion.

Students wrote a short paragraph summarizing the changes in the language as a result of the Invasion of 1066.

COLLECTED paragraphs.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Monday, October 26

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 2.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Friday, October 23

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 1.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26: Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 2.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.



MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Thursday, October 22

Short revision/independent reading session.
Groups had an opportunity to review and discuss their DEJs on "The Seafarer" (87--91).

Whole class discussion of the Focus Question, and Questions 1 and 2 on page 91:
Discussed fatalism in both Beowulf and "The Seafarer"
Discussed "The Seafarer"as an allegory, analyzing lines for what they tell us about the Anglo-Saxon attitude toward the life of a good Christian.
COLLECTED DEJs on Caedmon and "The Seafarer."

Reviewed the definition of an elegy, and listened to video performance of "The Wanderer."

HOMEWORK: For Friday: This is in preparation for a test.

Read background information on "The Wife's Lament," and put down 2--3 Post-It Notes on passages in both "The Wife's Lament" and "The Seafarer" to allow you to answer Question 3 on page 94: "The most important bond in Anglo-Saxon society was that between a lord and his retainers.  How do "The Seafarer" and "The Wife's Lament" reveal the Anglo-Saxon ideal of loyalty and the tragedy of separation or exile from one's lord?

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should submit their final drafts of the college application essay via Google Docs, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wednesday, October 21

Recorded the names of those applying early decision who will be handing in final drafts THIS Friday.

Groups read the introductory materials and "The Seafarer" (87--91).
Groups discussed what the poem is about, and the Focus Question on page 87.

Individuals recorded two notes on a DEJ on "The Seafarer" and shared and discussed those notes with their group; groups gave feedback on the quality of the examples and reasoning for each student.

(I will collect these notes, with the two notes on the story of Caedmon, tomorrow after our whole-class discussion.)

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should submit their final drafts of the college application essay via Google Docs, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.





Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Tuesday, October 20

Reminder: final drafts of reflective essay (on Google Docs) due THIS Friday for those applying early decision; NEXT Friday for those who are not.

Reviewed the story of Caedmon of Whitby (84--86) and the focus of Post-it notes on quotes to transfer to DEJ.
Students wrote two DEJ entries on facets of Anglo-Saxon culture reflected in the story of Caedmon.

Shared observations from DEJs with the whole class; discussed how the different quotes did or did not illustrate various aspects of the culture or literature in the post-Christian era.

Played short video clip of Caedmon's Hymn with discussion of its significance.

Groups began reading the introduction to "The Seafarer" (87).


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should hand in their final drafts of the college application essay, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.




Monday, October 19, 2015

Monday, October 19

Homework reminder for students out on Friday. (Paragraph was due.)
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Returned graded rough draft essays and discussed how the Google Docs process worked for those who chose it this time.
Based on feedback from class, handing in essay and getting feedback via Google Docs will be mandatory for future drafts.

Reviewed the aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture before and after the coming of Christianity to England we are looking for in the next batch of DEJs.
Read the story of Caedmon of Whitby (84--86) and placed Post-it notes on quotes to transfer to DEJ for tomorrow's discussion in class.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should hand in their final drafts of the college application essay, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.



Friday, October 16, 2015

Friday, October 16

Homework check: paragraph in answer to question 6 on page 381.
Choice of reading/writing.
COLLECTED paragraphs.
COLLECTED rough draft essays (via Google Docs shares or hard copy).

Discussed the story of the prodigal son.

Finished PowerPoint notes set,  "The Lowly Raised Up," tracing the rise of Christianity in Anglo Saxon culture, and the importance of Christian motifs in Old English Literature.

Distributed Caedmon/Old English Elegies DEJ forms.
Read intro material on Caedmon of Whitby (83--84) and reviewed the aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture before and after the coming of Christianity to England from the head of the DEJs.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Thursday, October 15

HOMEWORK: Read "The Parable of the Prodigal Son" from Literary Focus and Background through the parable (378--380) and write a short paragraph in answer to question 6 on page 381. 

Writers' Workshop/conferences.

 Began PowerPoint notes set,  "The Lowly Raised Up," tracing the rise of Christianity in Anglo Saxon culture, and the importance of Christian motifs in Old English Literature.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Wednesday, October 14

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Writers' Workshop/conferences.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Friday, October 9

Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz.

Writers' Workshop.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade (this is a change).

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Thursday, October 8

Reminders: Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Writers' Workshop.
Tomorrow after the vocabulary quiz will be the last day dedicated to writers' workshop, but there will be an opportunity to write during warm-up next Thursday and Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade (this is a change).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Wednesday, October 7

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test tomorrow; Beowulf art project due tomorrow.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Essay test on the epic hero.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade (tentatively).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Tuesday, October 6

Today's class short due to early release day schedule.

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test tomorrow; Beowulf art project due tomorrow.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Distributed essay test scoring rubric, and reviewed expectations for tomorrow's test.

Writers Workshop and individual writing conferences.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade (tentatively).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Monday, October 5, 2015

Monday, October 5

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test now on Wednesday; Beowulf art project due Wednesday.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Writers Workshop/writers group wrapups.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Friday, October 2, 2015

Friday, October 2

Epic Hero Essay Test now on Wednesday.
Beowulf art project due Wednesday.

Writers Groups met.
Students shared their drafts, with questions for their writing groups, and received feedback from other students in their groups.

Writers Workshop.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Thursday, October 1

Reminder: DEJ on the importance of the loyalty and fatalism within Anglo Saxon culture from Part 2 of Beowulf was due yesterday.
EPIC HERO ESSAY TEST ON TUESDAY!

Assigned Beowulf art project (color illustration with an appropriate quote from the poem as a caption) for WEDNESDAY.

Choice of independent reading, starting on the Beowulf art project, or work on the college essay for warm-up.

Writers Workshop.
Continued working on college application essays.
Students exchanged email addresses in order to share their current draft through Google Docs with their writing group tomorrow.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Wednesday, September 30

This lesson, short due to club day, was taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.

COLLECTED DEJs with 2 more notes, on loyalty and fatalism within Anglo Saxon culture, taken from Part 2 of Beowulf (43--48).

Writers Workshop.
Continued working on college application essays.  Students will be sharing their current draft with their writing groups on Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Tuesday, September 29

Reviewed the importance of the loyalty and fatalism within Anglo Saxon culture.
Began reading Part 2 of Beowulf (43--48).

Homework: finish reading Part 2 at home, and add two notes, one on an example of fatalism, one on an example of loyalty between a lord and his followers, to the current double entry journal.  (This will make a total of three examples in this journal.)

Writers Workshop.
Continued working on college application essays.  Students will be sharing their current draft with their writing groups on Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Monday, September 28

Silent reading.
COLLECT weekly reading logs.

Groups reported to the class the evidence they found to explain how Beowulf is an epic hero:
Larger than life/superhuman abilities
Great adventures
Reflects the values of his culture.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Friday, September 25

Reading quiz on Beowulf, Sections 10--end of Part 1.

Students worked in small groups to find evidence to explain how Beowulf is an epic hero:
Larger than life/superhuman abilities
Great adventures
Reflects the values of his culture.

Began sharing examples, reasoning with whole class.

(Students will be writing an in-class essay on this topic in the near future as a test grade!)

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Thursday, September 24

Read Beowulf, Sections 8--11 (pages 30--36).
HOMEWORK: Finish reading Part 1 (pages 36--38).  Expect a reading quiz!

Continued work on college application essays.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Wednesday, September 23

Choice reading or early start on essays.

Continued work on college application essays.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Tuesday, September 22

Beowulf reading quiz.

Continued work on college application essays.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Monday, September 21

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Discussion of comparative cultures and Beowulf.
Continued reading Beowulf, adding two more notes for the DEJ. on culture or poetry.

HOMEWORK: Read to the end of section 7 (p. 30) and be prepared for a reading quiz!

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Friday, September 18

Reviewed the rough draft rubric for evaluating reflective essays.
Reviewed the Common App prompts and a 3 step process for beginning to write the essay:

  • Find the vivid moment, the memorable heart of the story.
  • Give the background to understand the story.
  • Deliver the meaning/tie the essay to the prompt.

Students began brainstorming and drafting college application essays.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Thursday, September 17

Read Common App sample, Morley's essay.
Highlighted particularly good or interesting parts.
Briefly discussed strengths of the essay.

Demonstrated Common App unit resources.
Students accessed Google Docs (suggested, not required, as easiest way to share drafts with Ms. Bishop and other students).

Reviewed Common App prompts and a 3 step process for beginning to write the essay.
Students began brainstorming essays.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, September 16

This lesson taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Watched the movie Nicholas Nickleby.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, September 15

This lesson taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Watched the movie Nicholas Nickleby.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Monday, September 14

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Discussed sample student DEJ.
Watched In Search of Beowulf intro and recapped what we are looking for in our reading of Beowulf.
Continued reading the poem.  (Now up to line 291 on page 28.)

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Friday, September 11

Beowulf vocabulary quiz.
Choice: silent reading or beginning work on the Common App essay.

Wrapped up our discussion of Michaela's successful application essay, identifying some of the essay's strengths; read the reaction of the Johns Hopkins' Admissions Committee to the essay.

Small groups read Kyla's admissions essay, and found three strengths to report on to the class as a whole.
Class compared notes.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Thursday, September 10

Choice of reading or vocabulary study.
Read and discussed this year's prompts for the Common App essay.

Read and highlighted Michaela's successful application essay; began identifying some of the essay's strengths.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, September 11: Beowulf vocabulary test.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Wednesday, September 9

Guidance visit to discuss Common Application process.  (We begin work on the Common App essay tomorrow.)

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Tuesday, September 8

Short classes today due to early release day schedule.
COLLECTED signed syllabus forms; returned reading quizzes.
Reminder: vocabulary quiz Friday; guidance visit tomorrow.
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Friday, September 4

COLLECTED signed syllabus forms; returned reading quizzes.
Reminder: reading logs due Tuesday!
Choice of silent reading or vocabulary study.

Reviewed elements of Old English life and poetry relevant to Double Entry Journals (DEJs).
Continued reading Beowulf, checking in for comprehension and for passages that are relevant to DEJs.
Stopped to allow students to record a third quote, and to identify of what element it is an example.
COLLECTED DEJs for a grade.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Thursday, September 3

COLLECTED signed syllabus forms.
Reminder: reading logs due Tuesday!
Brief Quizlet vocabulary study session.

Reviewed elements of Old English life and poetry relevant to Double Entry Journals (DEJs).
Began reading Beowulf, checking in for comprehension and for passages that are relevant to DEJs.
Stopped to allow students to record 2 quotes, and to identify of what element they are examples.
(Now on page 22, line 56.)

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Wednesday, September 2

Reading quiz on pages 6--17 in textbook.
Ten minutes of silent reading.

COLLECTED signed syllabus forms.
Wrapped up PowerPoint notes on Old English life and poetry.
Distributed Beowulf Vocabulary set.
Students logged in or created accounts at Quizlet, joined the class there.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Tuesday, September 1

HOMEWORK: Read pages 6--17 in textbook for tomorrow, focusing especially on pages 11--17, "Anglo Saxon Life." Expect a reading quiz!

COLLECTED signed syllabus forms.
Signed out textbooks.

Small groups reached consensus on periods of history they would like to visit, and why; presented results to the class.

Began PowerPoint notes on Old English life and poetry.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Monday, August 31

Created classroom folders for each student.
Reviewed the syllabus and class expectations.
Introduced the class blog.

Students completed the English IV Survey.
Shared surveys with partners.
Shared with small groups.
COLLECTED surveys.

DUE DATES
FRIDAY, September 4: Signed syllabus form and movie permission slip are due.
TUESDAY, September 8: First reading log is due.